Officials identify Nevada man killed in canyoneering accident

A Henderson, Nevada, man has been identified as the victim of a fatal canyoneering accident in Zion National Park over the weekend.

SPRINGDALE, Washington County — A Henderson, Nevada, man has been identified as the victim of a fatal canyoneering accident in Zion National Park over the weekend.

Brian Artmann, 24, died Sunday after officials said he took a 100-foot "unroped" fall into a side canyon while canyoneering in Heaps Canyon. Artmann's three companions descended to him. One stayed with him while the other two continued through the canyon to get help.

Two Zion search-and-rescue teams and a helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park started rescue efforts early Sunday. Rescuers rappelled down and found the man dead, Zion spokeswoman Aly Baltrus said.

Heaps Canyon is a strenuous, challenging technical canyon with an approximate 3,000-foot descent, Baltrus said. It consists of a number of rappels into cold water, and ends with a 280-foot rappel to the Upper Emerald Pool area. It usually takes 12 to 20 hours to complete.